I'd like to extend a special welcome to the many tribal officials here today who have made the long trip to Washington- – it's an honor to have you here as we get ready for tomorrow's White House Tribal Nations Conference.

It is an honor to be here at the University of Maryland which has worked closely with the Department of Education for more than 20 years to advance the teaching of languages such as Hebrew, Farsi, Chinese, and Russian.

I am so happy to be here today to celebrate the transformative impact of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. For 35 years, IDEA has guaranteed students with disabilities their civil right to a free, appropriate public education.